UGLY TALK: GET STRAIGHT ANSWERS TO YOUR COMPANY’S MOST PRESSING TAX AND MONEY QUESTIONS
💡 What’s the Big Deal
Founders make bold moves—but sometimes overlook the fine print. Whether it’s tax structure, equity, finance, or legal compliance, the early mistakes can cost you. A lot. This Ugly Talk invites a panel of seasoned professionals—CPAs, tax attorneys, and financial advisors—who’ve helped thousands of entrepreneurs protect what they’re building and make smarter decisions.
This isn’t theory. It’s the real stuff they’ve seen—the near misses, the red flags, the “we really should’ve talked to someone sooner” moments. If you’ve got a question, they’ve probably already helped 100 people solve it. Let’s get your startup set up right.
🎯 Why You Should Attend
Get Real Answers: Ask what you’ve been Googling and get direct, credible guidance from the experts.
See the Red Flags: Hear true stories about how small oversights turned into big problems—and how to avoid them.
Connect with Experts: Walk away with clarity, confidence, and contacts who can help you move forward the right way.
🙋 Who You'll Meet
Early-Stage Founders: Those building their first (or second) business and want to get it right this time.
Business Owners: Entrepreneurs running high-impact teams who wear many hats.
Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Anyone preparing to launch and looking to avoid costly startup missteps.
🎤 Who’s on the Panel
Panelists:
Rick Hu - Founder & Private Wealth Advisor
Rick Hu is Founder and CEO of Midas Wealth, a Forbes-recognized, financial planning firm, dedicated to delivering sophisticated, personalized wealth strategies. Based on an award-winning, education-first approach, his team offers tailored solutions for high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners.
As an internationally renowned public speaker and coach, Rick is a preeminent thought leader in the industry and is a regularly sought-after financial expert for conferences.
Even after almost two decades in financial services and countless accolades, including the #1 Fee Based Planning Advisor and Firm just last year, Rick continues to push the limits of excellence and success.
Tony Hoong - Founder of The CPA Dude
The CPA Dude is a full-service tax strategy firm founded in 2019, dedicated to helping real estate investors and business owners keep more of what they earn. Unlike traditional CPAs who simply file returns, we build comprehensive tax strategies that allow clients to reinvest savings and build lasting wealth. Our team brings elite experience from the IRS, Big Four accounting firms (PwC, Deloitte, KPMG), and major tech companies (Uber, Box, Square, Dropbox, DoorDash). Led by CPAs and Enrolled Agents, we translate complex tax code into simple, actionable strategies. We embrace our COW values—Communication, Ownership, and Working Smarter—while leveraging cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of tax-saving opportunities. We're not just tax preparers; we're your year-round strategic partners in the battle against "Uncle Scam," making us the ultimate tax advisors who deliver value beyond compliance.
Calvin Chin - Principle at Zen Coast Capital
Calvin Chin is a real estate investor and a real estate coach based in the SF Bay Area who is focused on helping people create passive income to create passive impact, so they can give that knowledge back to their community! His mission in life is to create abundance in people, not be focused on being rich but on being wealthy in their time and energy.
Calvin Chin got into real estate to find a path to buy back his time and energy. Over the last 10 years, he was able to go from grinding in a 9–5 corporate job (Sales Tech) to having the financial freedom to be a full-time real estate investor and has built a portfolio of over 1,000 units and over $100M of assets under management.
Kelvern Chen - Certified Financial Planner at Midas Wealth
Kelvern Chen is a seasoned Wealth Management Advisor at Midas Wealth with over 12 years of experience in the financial industry. Holding a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, he specializes in comprehensive planning catered for business owners and high net worth individuals.
Kelvern has honed his expertise through impactful roles at the United Nations Federal Credit Union and TD Ameritrade, where he developed a keen understanding of global finance dynamics and client-centric solutions. Passionate about empowering clients to achieve their financial aspirations, Kelvern is dedicated to delivering tailored strategies that optimize tax efficient wealth building and ensure long-term financial security.
Moderator:
Ashley Weaver - Director of Operations at Midas Wealth
Ashley is the Director of Operations at Midas Wealth, where she leverages her background in accounting & recruiting to drive organizational success for the team of 16. With a passion for helping others, Ashley is committed to optimizing processes and delivering exceptional client experience. Known for her analytical skills and leadership, Ashley is dedicated to empowering clients and team members alike, ensuring that clients financial objectives are met with precision & care.
💬 What We’ll Talk About
Avoid Rookie Mistakes: Learn from the hard-earned lessons of other founders so you don’t have to learn them the hard way.
Protect and Plan Smart: Discover how to structure your business legally and financially to grow and scale confidently.
Ask the Experts: Bring your real legal, tax, or finance questions and get answers directly from professionals who work with founders like you every day.
🤝 Co-hosted With
Midas Wealth – A leading wealth advisory firm on a mission to deliver meaningful solutions for the long-term well-being of its clients. Founded by Rick Hu, a nationally recognized Forbes Financial Security Professional, the MIDAS team brings deep expertise, integrity, and a personal approach to every conversation.
GREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (featured on Apple News + Google News).
🤝 Venue Partner
The Yard - Private offices & coworking spaces for individuals and teams
🎥 Previous Ugly Talk
Get a taste of past Ugly Talk energy:
⭐ About Ugly Talk
Started in 2019, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights.
With a growing presence in cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.